[The soothing pressure on his back does precisely as it's meant to, warm and comforting and helping him get himself back under control. He shakes his head, trying to draw in a full deep breath, failing, and then squeezing Claude one more time. It's a strange sort of sensation, the warmth and, whether Claude will admit it or not, care in such a gesture.
He can hardly recall the last time he cried never mind any sort of comfort offered for such unseemly behavior. A nobleman is not swayed by his emotions but instead logical and precise. Always. Something that had been drilled into him for as long as he can remember.
Don't get upset, don't get mad, don't show anyone that things affect you. You undermine your power with such needless emotions. You need to be untouchable. All pleasant smiles and polite nods and don't you dare question your father.
He'd never managed to be cold the way his father did but he could spout thoughtless pleasantries for days and that had been... acceptable.
But this? This was disgraceful. And here was Claude being kind to him, as though he wasn't making an utter fool of himself.
Lorenz sniffles again, swallows down another sob, and forces himself to take a step back. Distance, first and foremost. One hand comes up to his face, rubbing at his eyes as begins murmuring his apologies, voice still strained even though he's fighting so hard to get himself back under control.]
N-nonsense. If anyone should be embarrassed it's me. [One more attempt to scrub away any sign of tears from his face and pretend like his hold on his emotions is far more solid than it is (than it ever is, if he's honest.)]
no subject
He can hardly recall the last time he cried never mind any sort of comfort offered for such unseemly behavior. A nobleman is not swayed by his emotions but instead logical and precise. Always. Something that had been drilled into him for as long as he can remember.
Don't get upset, don't get mad, don't show anyone that things affect you. You undermine your power with such needless emotions. You need to be untouchable. All pleasant smiles and polite nods and don't you dare question your father.
He'd never managed to be cold the way his father did but he could spout thoughtless pleasantries for days and that had been... acceptable.
But this? This was disgraceful. And here was Claude being kind to him, as though he wasn't making an utter fool of himself.
Lorenz sniffles again, swallows down another sob, and forces himself to take a step back. Distance, first and foremost. One hand comes up to his face, rubbing at his eyes as begins murmuring his apologies, voice still strained even though he's fighting so hard to get himself back under control.]
N-nonsense. If anyone should be embarrassed it's me. [One more attempt to scrub away any sign of tears from his face and pretend like his hold on his emotions is far more solid than it is (than it ever is, if he's honest.)]
My... apologies...